Gospel Hall Brethren
Encyclopedia
The Gospel Hall Brethren are an aggregate of independent and autonomous Christian fellowships at different locations, which are networked together through a set of shared Biblical doctrines and practices. Theologically, they are in the evangelical Protestant tradition, and in practice, share a lot in common with the Open Brethren
movement, of which they are a sub-set.
The Gospel Hall Brethren believe a scriptural Christian
fellowship (or “assembly” as they are commonly known) should avoid any distinctive sectarian name. As an example, they consider it improper for an assembly to take the name of any current or historical leader. They prefer to describe themselves simply as "Christians" and their buildings as "Gospel Halls." To differentiate one assembly from another, the title Gospel Hall is usually preceded by some reference to the street or town associated with the building's locality (ex. Main Street Gospel Hall). They oppose the idea of their assemblies being characterized by any one distinctive Biblical doctrine or system of church government and strongly reject any attempts to be regulated by a central ecclesiastical authority. They consider this being faithful to the pattern of corporate gathering described in the New Testament.
Even though Gospel Hall Brethren assemblies are independent, they often have many similar characteristics to each other. Their basis of fellowship and reception to the Lord's Table
differs from both the Exclusive Brethren
and the Bible Chapel Brethren assemblies. While both the latter groupings generally believe that the basis for reception is that all Christians are united together as members of the Body of Christ
, the Gospel Hall Brethren teach that reception is based on Christians being united together by a variety of shared doctrinal beliefs. As such, to receive a Christian to the Lord's Table, even a visitor, is to receive them to the full rights and responsibilities of the assembly. Taking this principle, they do not accept casual or occasional fellowship and base this on the Scripture, "continuing steadfastly in the Apostles doctrine" Acts 2:42. These assemblies generally receive only from other assemblies, and some assemblies only receive from other Gospel Hall Brethren assemblies. Unless the believer is very well known, a 'letter of commendation' formally introducing them is required, in keeping with a practice found in the New Testament (Romans 16:1-2). Many, particularly in Canada, the United States, and Northern Ireland, do not use musical instruments during services. Most also do not actually use the name "Gospel Hall Brethren," simply referring to themselves as "Christians", "believers", or "the brethren".
Sometimes the Gospel Hall Brethren are known as Closed-Open
, Tight Brethren
, or Conservative Open Brethren
(some of these terms may be considered disparaging). Such terms can sometimes refer to the careful or 'tight' manner in which they do not receive other Christians, who may not attend a Gospel Hall, to the fellowship of their assembly. Gospel Hall Brethren assemblies can often be characterised as "Open with a closed table." This is the practice of restricting the Lord's Table
to those who are members of the assembly, yet still being willing to associate with other Christians outside the Gospel Hall.
The Gospel Hall Brethren movement spread out from a work in Scotland after the great Revival of 1859. Evangelists like Alexander Marshall and Donald Ross, who were in fellowship with the Open Brethren assemblies, did much work in spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ and beginning new assemblies. Many of the Gospel Halls in Canada
were pioneered by these Scottish evangelists (see J.J. Rouse
for information on an early Canadian Gospel Hall pioneer).
In the middle of the 20th century, and continuing onward, a division formed in the Open Brethren movement in North America. A distinction between Gospel Halls
and Bible Chapels became pronounced. In his Open Letter to the Assemblies, Robert McClure, who was welcome in both groups, lamented this division.
movement. Alexander Marshall broke with the Needed Truth faction early on over their insistence that any "two or three gathered together" could not be called an assembly and could not break bread together. He believed this was not in keeping with the New Testament pattern for corporate gathering. The Needed Truth Brethren continued to assert that only gatherings connected to an already existing assembly could be considered an true assembly. "Informal" gatherings were not recognized as being the Lord's Table.
Open Brethren
The Open Brethren, sometimes called Christian Brethren or "Plymouth Brethren", are a group of Protestant Evangelical Christian churches that arose in the late 1820s as part of the Assembly Movement...
movement, of which they are a sub-set.
The Gospel Hall Brethren believe a scriptural Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
fellowship (or “assembly” as they are commonly known) should avoid any distinctive sectarian name. As an example, they consider it improper for an assembly to take the name of any current or historical leader. They prefer to describe themselves simply as "Christians" and their buildings as "Gospel Halls." To differentiate one assembly from another, the title Gospel Hall is usually preceded by some reference to the street or town associated with the building's locality (ex. Main Street Gospel Hall). They oppose the idea of their assemblies being characterized by any one distinctive Biblical doctrine or system of church government and strongly reject any attempts to be regulated by a central ecclesiastical authority. They consider this being faithful to the pattern of corporate gathering described in the New Testament.
Even though Gospel Hall Brethren assemblies are independent, they often have many similar characteristics to each other. Their basis of fellowship and reception to the Lord's Table
Eucharist
The Eucharist , also called Holy Communion, the Sacrament of the Altar, the Blessed Sacrament, the Lord's Supper, and other names, is a Christian sacrament or ordinance...
differs from both the Exclusive Brethren
Exclusive Brethren
The Exclusive Brethren are a subset of the Christian evangelical movement generally described as the Plymouth Brethren. They are distinguished from the Open Brethren from whom they separated in 1848....
and the Bible Chapel Brethren assemblies. While both the latter groupings generally believe that the basis for reception is that all Christians are united together as members of the Body of Christ
Body of Christ
In Christian theology, the term Body of Christ has two separate connotations: it may refer to Jesus's statement about the Eucharist at the Last Supper that "This is my body" in , or the explicit usage of the term by the Apostle Paul in to refer to the Christian Church.Although in general usage the...
, the Gospel Hall Brethren teach that reception is based on Christians being united together by a variety of shared doctrinal beliefs. As such, to receive a Christian to the Lord's Table, even a visitor, is to receive them to the full rights and responsibilities of the assembly. Taking this principle, they do not accept casual or occasional fellowship and base this on the Scripture, "continuing steadfastly in the Apostles doctrine" Acts 2:42. These assemblies generally receive only from other assemblies, and some assemblies only receive from other Gospel Hall Brethren assemblies. Unless the believer is very well known, a 'letter of commendation' formally introducing them is required, in keeping with a practice found in the New Testament (Romans 16:1-2). Many, particularly in Canada, the United States, and Northern Ireland, do not use musical instruments during services. Most also do not actually use the name "Gospel Hall Brethren," simply referring to themselves as "Christians", "believers", or "the brethren".
Sometimes the Gospel Hall Brethren are known as Closed-Open
Tight Brethren
Tight Brethren is a disparaging term sometimes used to identify Open Brethren assemblies within the Plymouth Brethren movement which hold to a conservative Gospel Hall Brethren policy of reception to fellowship and Lord's Table, in contrast to the more open policy of the Loose Brethren .All...
, Tight Brethren
Tight Brethren
Tight Brethren is a disparaging term sometimes used to identify Open Brethren assemblies within the Plymouth Brethren movement which hold to a conservative Gospel Hall Brethren policy of reception to fellowship and Lord's Table, in contrast to the more open policy of the Loose Brethren .All...
, or Conservative Open Brethren
Tight Brethren
Tight Brethren is a disparaging term sometimes used to identify Open Brethren assemblies within the Plymouth Brethren movement which hold to a conservative Gospel Hall Brethren policy of reception to fellowship and Lord's Table, in contrast to the more open policy of the Loose Brethren .All...
(some of these terms may be considered disparaging). Such terms can sometimes refer to the careful or 'tight' manner in which they do not receive other Christians, who may not attend a Gospel Hall, to the fellowship of their assembly. Gospel Hall Brethren assemblies can often be characterised as "Open with a closed table." This is the practice of restricting the Lord's Table
Eucharist
The Eucharist , also called Holy Communion, the Sacrament of the Altar, the Blessed Sacrament, the Lord's Supper, and other names, is a Christian sacrament or ordinance...
to those who are members of the assembly, yet still being willing to associate with other Christians outside the Gospel Hall.
History
The first assembly of Christians was located in Jerusalem around 30 AD as described in the New Testament book The Acts. The Gospel Hall Brethren consider this assembly to be their true historical roots. As Christianity spread throughout the Near Eastern world, other assemblies were planted in new locations (see Revelation, chapters 2–3). Gospel Hall Brethren believe that Christian assemblies in the latter part of the 1st century, and onward, were gradually marked by doctrinal error and departure from New Testament church principles. Even so, they believe there has always been a remnant of assembly testimony upon earth, however small. This historical remnant is documented in a popular book amongst the Brethren called The Pilgrim Church by E.H. Broadbent. Broadbent traces the history of assembly testimony from the first century to the early decades of the 19th century when assembly movements appeared almost simultaneously in various places around Ireland, Scotland, England, and continental Europe. The result is believed by Gospel Hall Brethren to be a blessed recovery of much divine truth which had been long buried under accumulated rubble of ecclesiastical tradition and superstition (which were identical to the local churches).The Gospel Hall Brethren movement spread out from a work in Scotland after the great Revival of 1859. Evangelists like Alexander Marshall and Donald Ross, who were in fellowship with the Open Brethren assemblies, did much work in spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ and beginning new assemblies. Many of the Gospel Halls in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
were pioneered by these Scottish evangelists (see J.J. Rouse
J.J. Rouse
J.J. Rouse was a Canadian Plymouth Brethren Evangelist, associated with early Canadian Gospel Hall Brethren.-Early Life And Conversion:He was born May 15, 1869 on a farm in the township of Oro, Simcoe County, Ontario, Canada...
for information on an early Canadian Gospel Hall pioneer).
In the middle of the 20th century, and continuing onward, a division formed in the Open Brethren movement in North America. A distinction between Gospel Halls
Gospel Halls
Gospel Hall is a term used by Christians to refer to their building for its purpose of delivering the Gospel. The word Gospel Hall is not limited to any one denomination in Christianity. In U.S. and Canada some Presbyterian Churches are known to label a facility on their property or campus,...
and Bible Chapels became pronounced. In his Open Letter to the Assemblies, Robert McClure, who was welcome in both groups, lamented this division.
Doctrinal Disagreements
There was an early connection between the Scottish evangelists like Donald Munro, Ross, Marshall, Ritchie, Vine, etc., and the Needed Truth BrethrenNeeded Truth Brethren
Needed Truth Brethren, as they are sometimes known, call themselves, “The Churches of God in the Fellowship of the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ". This is their official legal title, however other Christians might classify them as a very conservative form of Brethrenism, connexional in nature;...
movement. Alexander Marshall broke with the Needed Truth faction early on over their insistence that any "two or three gathered together" could not be called an assembly and could not break bread together. He believed this was not in keeping with the New Testament pattern for corporate gathering. The Needed Truth Brethren continued to assert that only gatherings connected to an already existing assembly could be considered an true assembly. "Informal" gatherings were not recognized as being the Lord's Table.
International Distinctions
Open Brethren assemblies in Northern Ireland are usually characteristically similar to either Gospel Hall Brethren or Bible Chapel brethren in North America. However, a strict line of separation does not exist as it generally does in North America. The result is that Christians from either background might fellowship together in a Northern Ireland assembly, though fellowshipping separately in their respective countries. This can pose a dilemma for United Kingdom preachers speaking in North America, who have to choose who to fellowship with while visiting.Current work
Gospel Hall Brethren continue the Biblical commandment to preach the gospel, disciple new Christians, and gather in local assemblies. Their assemblies support many preachers who are dedicated to full-time evangelism and Bible teaching.External links
- GospelHall.Org Gospel Halls in North America
- Heaven4sure.com
- gospelhall.org.uk Gospel Halls in the United Kingdom